Lesson Plan

Teacher Guide Impulse Control

Students will use the STOPP routine to plan a response to one personal trigger and rehearse it in a role-play to build impulse control.

Impulse control is critical for teen decision-making; mastering the STOPP steps helps students pause, reflect, and choose positive behaviors when facing triggers.

Audience

9th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Model, practice, and reflect with hands-on scenarios.

Materials

Slides Think It Through, Do Now Trigger Tally, Spin-a-Scenario Wheel, STOPP Planner, Role-Play Scenario Cards, My Replacement Plan, and Exit Ticket One Cue

Prep

Preparation

10 minutes

Print or copy enough Do Now Trigger Tally, STOPP Planner, Role-Play Scenario Cards, My Replacement Plan, and Exit Ticket One Cue for each student pair.
Assemble the Spin-a-Scenario Wheel game board or digital spinner.
Load Slides Think It Through onto the classroom projector or display.
Review the STOPP routine steps and sample scenarios in Teacher Guide Impulse Control.

Step 1

Do Now: Identify a Recent Trigger

5 minutes

Distribute Do Now Trigger Tally to each student.
Ask students to list and tally any triggers they encountered in the last day (e.g., frustration, peer teasing).
Invite a few volunteers to share one trigger they noticed.

Step 2

Teach: Model the STOPP Steps

7 minutes

Display Slides Think It Through.
Introduce each STOPP step: Stop, Take a breath, Observe, Pull back, Practice what works.
Model applying STOPP to a common scenario (e.g., reacting to criticism).

Step 3

Interactive: Spin-a-Scenario

5 minutes

Present the Spin-a-Scenario Wheel.
In small groups, have one student spin to select a scenario card.
Ask groups to briefly identify the trigger and imagine how STOPP would apply.

Step 4

Guided Practice: Planner & Role-Play

8 minutes

Pair students and give each pair a Role-Play Scenario Cards deck and a STOPP Planner.
In pairs, one student reads the scenario while both complete the planner: identify trigger, STOPP steps, and a replacement behavior.
Students role-play the scenario using their STOPP plan; switch roles and repeat.

Step 5

Reflect & Exit Ticket

5 minutes

Hand out My Replacement Plan. Students write one personal trigger and their planned STOPP response.
Collect journals and distribute Exit Ticket One Cue for students to answer: “Which STOPP step will you use first tomorrow?”

Slide Deck

Think It Through: Beat Impulses

Learn how to use the STOPP routine to manage impulses and choose positive responses.

Welcome students! Today we’ll learn how to pause and make positive choices when we feel strong urges or emotions. Introduce the lesson title and connect to real-life moments when impulses can lead to trouble.

Lesson Objectives

• Use the STOPP routine to plan a response to a personal trigger
• Rehearse that response through a role-play scenario

Read aloud the objectives so students know what they will achieve by the end of the lesson. Emphasize the role-play component for hands-on practice.

The STOPP Routine

S – Stop!
T – Take a Breath
O – Observe What’s Happening
P – Pull Back and Reflect
P – Practice What Works

Introduce each letter in STOPP. Provide a quick definition for each step and relate to everyday moments when students need to pause.

STOPP Steps in Action

Pause your reaction
Breathe deeply to calm your mind
Notice your thoughts and feelings
Step back and gain perspective
Try out a healthier response

Show simple icons or visuals for each step (e.g., a hand for Stop, lungs for Breath). Walk through an imagined moment of feeling rushed or upset.

Example Scenario: Peer Teasing

You feel embarrassed when a friend teases you in front of others.
• Stop your initial reaction
• Take a deep breath
• Observe you feel hurt and defensive
• Pull back: remind yourself it’s not about you
• Practice: respond calmly or change the subject

Model applying STOPP to a common scenario. Read the scenario and talk through each STOPP step aloud.

Interactive: Spin-a-Scenario

• In small groups, spin the digital or paper wheel
• Read the scenario you land on
• Identify the trigger
• Discuss how you would apply each STOPP step

Explain how groups will use the Spin-a-Scenario Wheel to pick a practice case. Emphasize quick identification of triggers and planning.

Guided Practice & Role-Play

• Pair up and get a scenario card and STOPP Planner
• Identify the trigger and write your STOPP plan
• Role-play the scenario, using your plan
• Switch roles and repeat

Outline the guided practice with planners and role-play cards. Encourage students to switch roles and support one another.

Warm Up

Do Now: Identify and Tally Your Triggers

Take 3 minutes to list up to five personal triggers you experienced in the last day. For each trigger, add tally marks to show how many times it occurred.

Personal Trigger	Tally
1. ____________________________
2. ____________________________
3. ____________________________
4. ____________________________
5. ____________________________

Choose one trigger you’d like to share with the class or in your group:

Game

Spin-a-Scenario Wheel

Use this spinner game to practice identifying triggers and applying the STOPP routine. When a group spins the wheel, read aloud the scenario you land on, identify the trigger, then briefly discuss which STOPP step you’d use and how.

Scenarios on the Wheel:

Scenario: Peer Pressure
You’re at lunch and your friends insist you ditch study hall to hang out. You feel torn between fitting in and keeping up with homework.
Trigger: Peer pressure to skip responsibilities.
Scenario: Gaming Frustration
You’ve lost the final level of your favorite video game for the third time. Your chest tightens and you want to smash the controller.
Trigger: Frustration over repeated failure.
Scenario: Teasing Comment
A classmate makes a joking remark about your outfit in front of others. You feel embarrassed and angry.
Trigger: Public teasing or embarrassment.
Scenario: Phone Distraction
Your phone buzzes with notifications while you’re trying to finish a project. You’re itching to check messages instead of focusing.
Trigger: Urge to check phone and lose focus.
Scenario: Sibling Argument
Your sibling snatches your headphones without asking, and you glare at them, ready to yell.
Trigger: Feeling disrespected at home.
Scenario: Low Test Score
You get a grade lower than expected on a quiz. You feel defeated and want to give up studying for the next one.
Trigger: Discouragement or lack of motivation.

Worksheet

STOPP Planner

Use this planner to work through each step of the STOPP routine when a trigger arises. Write your responses in the spaces provided.

1. Situation & Trigger

Describe the situation and the specific trigger you experienced. Be as detailed as you can.

2. S – Stop!

What can you do right away to pause your reaction and prevent an impulsive response?

3. T – Take a Breath

How will you calm yourself in this moment? (For example: count to five, take three deep breaths, etc.)

4. O – Observe

What thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations are you noticing right now?

5. P – Pull Back & Reflect

How can you step back and gain perspective? What questions can you ask yourself (e.g., “Is this worth it?” or “What do I want to achieve?”)?

6. P – Practice What Works

What positive behavior or response will you choose instead of the impulse? Describe exactly what you will do or say.

Replacement Behavior Plan

Think ahead: what is one alternative action you can use next time you face this trigger?

Script

Role-Play Scenario Cards

Use these cards in pairs to practice your STOPP plans through role-play. For each card:

Person A reads the role description and begins the scenario.
Person B practices using the STOPP routine to respond.
Switch roles and repeat.